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The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has warned that delays in processing and confirming customs duty payments through GTBank are exposing importers to mounting demurrage and avoidable losses.
National President Otunba Frank Ogunojemite called for immediate intervention by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Ports Authority and the banking sector.
“An importer’s profit should not be consumed by demurrage arising from a payment process that is beyond his control. This is no longer just a banking inconvenience; it is becoming a serious trade-facilitation and port-efficiency issue,” he said.
APFFLON said such delays threaten to undo the Federal Government’s reforms aimed at faster cargo clearance, improved port efficiency and lower business costs. Each extra day a consignment stays uncleared adds demurrage, storage charges, terminal expenses and interest on borrowed funds. In many cases, the importer’s entire expected profit is wiped out before delivery.
The association urged the Finance Ministry to convene relevant agencies and financial institutions to establish a reliable system for instant confirmation of customs payments. It also demanded:
– Real-time confirmation of customs duty payments;
– An emergency escalation channel for payments not immediately reflected;
– Protection from demurrage where evidence of payment exists;
– Clear accountability for delays within the payment and confirmation chain; and
– An inter-agency monitoring mechanism to ensure payment delays do not undermine port reforms.
APFFLON also appealed to terminal operators and shipping companies to show restraint and consideration where delays are demonstrably caused by payment-processing or government-system failures beyond importers’ control.
Ogunojemite said it is contradictory to pursue shorter cargo dwell time while legitimate importers lose days waiting for payment confirmation.
“The Federal Government is making genuine efforts to improve the ports and reduce clearance time. We do not want administrative or banking bottlenecks to sabotage those efforts. If this situation is not addressed urgently, demurrage will consume the working capital and profits of Nigerian importers, while the country loses revenue and businesses lose confidence,” he said.
The association urged the Federal Government to treat the issue as an emergency trade-facilitation matter rather than a routine banking complaint, adding that it remains ready to work with Customs, financial institutions and other port stakeholders on an immediate and lasting solution.
